Boston Firefighter Arrested For Gun Collection And Private Home Range

A decorated Army and Navy veteran turned Boston firefighter, commended for bravery during the deadly 2017 North End fire, was arrested at his Massachusetts home after Milton police found him in possession of five unregistered assault rifles, five unregistered handguns, 2,000 rounds of ammunition, 76 magazines, four ballistic vests, and several tourniquets. 

By Darwin Nercesian for The Truth About Guns

But this isn’t just any run-of-the-mill Massachusetts disregard of the Second Amendment, as the suspect also had his own 200-foot-long shooting range built out in a basement beneath the home, making this gigachad a pretty swell guy and gun owner of the week in my book.

Boston Fire Lieutenant Joshua Thompson, 38, faces over 40 charges, including possession of a large capacity firearm, improper storage of a large capacity firearm, violating an order to surrender his weapons, and a single count of trafficking 36 grams or more of methamphetamine. Okay, so there is a little more to the story. In June, he was hit with an order to turn over his firearms in compliance with a harassment prevention order; however, as of mid-July, three firearms said to be owned by Thompson were still unaccounted for.

On Monday, August 18, Thompson’s wife contacted authorities to obtain a restraining order on her husband, alleging that he had blown a leaf blower in her face and forced her to flush her wedding ring down the toilet, according to the Boston Herald. Thompson had previously been accused of slashing his own tires while his kids were in the car, pulling the wheel of the car while his wife was driving, sending threatening texts to his wife, and being physically violent with her, according to police reports.

But Peter Pasciucco, Thompson’s attorney, says Thompson is a protector with no history of violence.

“He’s the antithesis of a dangerous person… He’s a dedicated first responder… At no time in Mr. Thompson’s life has he ever been alleged to have used a firearm improperly, discharged a firearm improperly, or threatened another individual with a firearm,” Pasciucco told the Herald.

For those of you thinking there may be more to some of the allegations, we’re on the same wavelength. Also, a leaf blower? A lost ring? Do you see the pattern emerging? How is any of this supposed to be substantiated? Where is the evidence? Where are the arrests? But that’s the point when it comes to restraining orders, how they’re issued, and how they violate due process by demanding the removal of rights and property under threat of severe penalty without any finding that the individual is guilty of a crime.

Authorities served Thompson with the restraining order the next day at his home, along with a search warrant, which is how they discovered the underground shooting range and what was left of Thompson’s gun collection. The methamphetamine possession listed in the report seems to stem from one hundred tablets of Adderall found in the home, for which police are alleging Thompson had the intent to distribute based solely on the quantity. Peter Thompson, the suspect’s father and a prominent Braintree businessman, said at a hearing, however, that his son wasn’t dangerous and would benefit from treatment for mental health and addiction.

Thompson may also be on the hook for missing body armor, but even that charge seems more fleeting than bombshell-like. Apparently, Thompson’s department-issued “active shooter” armor that had been reported missing from his fire truck earlier this year was found amongst the firearms and gear.

Read the original article in its entirety on The Truth About Guns.

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